1997 ford countour right tail light not working.

Check the wiring to that socket. Possibly a wire broke or bad bulb socket. The license plate light is only a splice from the tail light wires, so if both or all tail lights work from the park/headlight switch, the tag light problem is right there at the rear. If you have a voltmeter or a test light, check for power to the bulb socket with the park lights on.

You get at this from the inside; remove the interior trim in that corner and there's your housing. The bulb is nearly always the problem, but the socket simply turns out of the housing and you pop another bulb in. If you don't have a spare bulb take the old one in to any auto parts store and they will match it. Get a few since the one on the right side is the same age, ... lol. Hope that helps

A frequent problem is that someone has put the wrong bulb in the wrong socket. There are two physically identical but electrically different bulbs which can be put into the same socket. If you ever drove down the road at night behind someone who had one tail light much brighter than the other, you have seen this yourself.

So the first step is to make absolutely sure that you have the right bulb in the right socket. You have to look inside the socket and see what the connectors on the bottom look like and make sure they will line up with their mates on the bottom of the bulb.

You want to change the tail light bulb?

The process for replacing tail light bulbs is the same in all models. If you have a burnt-out tail light bulb, you may need to replace the brake light, the reverse light or the turn signal. The procedure to replace each of the bulbs is the same.

Instructions

1. Open the Hummer's rear swing gate. This will expose the edge of the vehicle's tail light assembly. You'll see two small Phillips head screws that hold the tail light assembly in place. Put on your gloves.


2. Remove the two screws from the tail light assembly. Pull the tail light out and inspect the back for two bulbs. The top bulb is the brake light and turn signal. The bottom bulb is the reverse bulb. Determine which bulb you need to replace.

3Rotate the bulb's socket counterclockwise to disconnect it. Unplug the bulb from its socket.

4Push the replacement bulb into its socket firmly. Insert the socket back into the tail light. Turn it clockwise to secure it in place.

5Place the tail light into its cradle. Hold it with one hand and replace the Phillips head screws with the other.

I just changed my rear turn signal. Really easy. There is two 1/4 inch bolts visible when you open the tailgate. Take both of those out and gently lift the light housing out towards the outside of the vehicle. There is two small clamps on the other side of the fixture that just slide right out when you pull on it. There you go

1. Open the trunk and remove the taillight cover by turning the knob.
2. Determine which of the two bulbs is burned out: tail/stoplight or turn
signal.
3. Remove the socket by turning it one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
4. Remove the burned out bulb from the socket by pulling it straight out of its socket.
5. Install the new bulb in the socket.
6. Reinstall the socket into the light assembly.
7. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.
8. Reinstall the taillight assembly cover.

lower tailgate.look for small 8 or 10mm bolts that hold tail light assembly in place .remove bolts,pull assembly off.there are also plastic 'pins' that align and help hold the tail light.grasp bulb socket and twist to remove.pull bulb straight out.

have you checked the fuse?

Laura E;

Most tail light housings use the same approach. The bulb is removed from the housing by twisting
the back of the bulf where the wires are. Usually the bulb itself has a rubber back and turning it about a quarter turn counterclockwise (remember lefty=loosey; righty = tighty) will release the bulb it from the taillight housing. Take the bulb with you when you go for a replacement to be sure you get the right one.
The bulb will only fit one way into its socket and the socket will only fit one way into the housing.

Good luck ,

Loringh

Open the rear tailgate There are 2 screws that hold light housing in place.. Remove the screws then pull the housing outwards till the clip behind it springs. You then need to knock the housing sideways (outwards) to free the 2 prongs that attach housing to the car body.
Unclip the rear housing from the back of the light unit & change the bulb.